Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLCScarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Firm Insights

How Could Jeffrey Kessler's Lawsuit Change the NCAA?

Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC

Date: March 31, 2014

Key Contacts

Back

Jeffrey Kessler Lawsuit

The NCAA is currently basking in the glory of one of the best first weekends of the annual March Madness tournament in history – with major upsets, such as Mercer over Duke and North Dakota State over Oklahoma. However, it isn’t all good for the NCAA, as Jeffrey Kessler recently filed the most significant lawsuit to date challenging the association’s rule of amateurism.

What would this lawsuit mean if successful?

If Kessler is able to win the lawsuit, it would essentially change the NCAA’s current model as we know it. There have been many people to challenge amateurism in the past and all have been unsuccessful.

According to Sports Illustrated legal analysts, one of the biggest changes that would come from a successful lawsuit is that amateur athletes would become free agents. For example, if the next Johnny Manziel is coming out of high school, he would be able to choose the school that is able to pay him the most money.

Why is Kessler’s involvement significant?

Much ado has been made about Kessler’s involvement in the lawsuit. There is confidence in this case, despite the fact that so many people were unsuccessful in the past because he was also involved in establishing free agency for NFL players in 1992.

This lawsuit could have significant legal ramifications on the future of the NCAA. The association’s rules have long been upheld against any challenges. If a court rules that NCAA amateurism is unfair, the association will never be the same. Also, if this rule is able to be overturned, others, such as the transfer restrictions, could be next. Essentially, this ruling could create a legal domino effect that the NCAA does not want to see.

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Related Posts

See all
How Intellectual Property Valuation Will Impact Business Transactions post image

How Intellectual Property Valuation Will Impact Business Transactions

Intellectual property valuation determines the monetary value of a business’s IP assets, and it drives outcomes in licensing deals, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, financing, and ownership disputes. The most valuable assets of a business are often the things that cannot be seen or touched: a proprietary process, a copyrighted work, brand recognition, or the […]

Author: Jay McDaniel

Link to post with title - "How Intellectual Property Valuation Will Impact Business Transactions"
Data Center, Dark Fiber, and Lit Services Agreements in New Jersey: Key Terms and Legal Pitfalls post image

Data Center, Dark Fiber, and Lit Services Agreements in New Jersey: Key Terms and Legal Pitfalls

For New Jersey data center owners and operators, a service agreement may look routine when it is signed. The network is functioning, the vendor is meeting its installation schedule, and the parties have agreed on pricing and performance specifications. The provisions that seem most important at that stage are often the technical ones. That changes […]

Author: George McGowan

Link to post with title - "Data Center, Dark Fiber, and Lit Services Agreements in New Jersey: Key Terms and Legal Pitfalls"
Fort Monmouth Redevelopment and the Transformation of Monmouth County Real Estate post image

Fort Monmouth Redevelopment and the Transformation of Monmouth County Real Estate

The Fort Monmouth redevelopment has entered its execution phase, and it is repositioning the broader Monmouth County real estate market. When Netflix and the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority closed on the 292-acre Mega Parcel in December 2025, the transaction did more than hand over a deed. It marked the moment Fort Monmouth stopped being […]

Author: Donald M. Pepe

Link to post with title - "Fort Monmouth Redevelopment and the Transformation of Monmouth County Real Estate"
Local Zoning and Land Use Rules Every New Jersey Rental Property Owner Should Understand post image

Local Zoning and Land Use Rules Every New Jersey Rental Property Owner Should Understand

Owning a residential rental property in New Jersey involves more than finding tenants and collecting rent. Property owners must comply with a combination of state laws, municipal ordinances, building and housing codes, and zoning and land use regulations. These requirements can affect everything from the number of dwelling units permitted at a property to whether […]

Author: Donald M. Pepe

Link to post with title - "Local Zoning and Land Use Rules Every New Jersey Rental Property Owner Should Understand"
Real Estate Litigation Explained: Top 5 Disputes and How to Avoid Them post image

Real Estate Litigation Explained: Top 5 Disputes and How to Avoid Them

The five most common real estate disputes are breach of contract claims, landlord-tenant conflicts, zoning and land use disagreements, construction claims, and boundary disputes. Understanding why each arises, and taking preventive steps early, can help property owners, tenants, developers, and investors avoid costly litigation. Key Takeaways: Real estate transactions are complex endeavors involving numerous parties […]

Author: Paul Grossman

Link to post with title - "Real Estate Litigation Explained: Top 5 Disputes and How to Avoid Them"
When a Child Turns 18: The Gap in Your Family’s Estate Plan post image

When a Child Turns 18: The Gap in Your Family’s Estate Plan

Once a child turns 18, parents lose the automatic legal authority to make medical and financial decisions on their behalf, even if the child still lives at home or remains on the family’s insurance. Three documents close that gap: a durable power of attorney, a health care proxy or directive, and a HIPAA authorization. For […]

Author: George McGowan

Link to post with title - "When a Child Turns 18: The Gap in Your Family’s Estate Plan"

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!

Explore What Matters Most to You.

Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.

Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.

Let`s get in touch!

* The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. By providing a telephone number and submitting this form you are consenting to be contacted by SMS text message. Message & data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. You can reply STOP to opt-out of further messaging.
“If you would like to submit a file, please email it directly to info@sh-law.com.

Sign up to get the latest from the Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC attorneys!